Dr. Christopher Happy named Honolulu’s chief medical examiner

Dr. Christopher Happy, a forensic pathologist in Northern California, has been named chief medical examiner for the City and County of Honolulu, nearly three years after the retirement of the previous medical examiner, the city said Monday.

Happy must obtain a medical license in Hawaii before he can start his new job, city officials said.

The city was unable to hire a new medical examiner after Dr. Kanthi De Alwis retired on Nov. 1, 2009, because the salary was considered too low to attract a board-certified forensic pathologist. The city has since raised the salary to $250,000.

Happy is certified by the American Board of Pathology in anatomic and forensic pathology and is a fellow of the National Association of Medical Examiners. He has previously worked as an assistant medical examiner in San Francisco and Santa Clara, Calif.; chief medical examiner in Milwaukee County, Wis.; and, city medical examiner in New York City.

“I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Christopher Happy, and I believe he possesses not only the professional expertise and experience required for the chief medical examiner position, but the leadership qualities that are needed to successfully run this critical operation at the city,” Mayor Kirk Caldwellsaid in a statement. “He shares the values of my administration, which are to be dedicated to public service and to serve the people with respect, honesty and transparency.”